billgrassYears of Experience: 17
Education: B.S., Management, Louisiana State University, 1997
Technical Skills: Adobe Creative Suite MicrosoftOffice Pinnacle Studio
Professional Affiliations: American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)
Graphic Design USA (GD USA) National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP)
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
12500Old Hammond Highway#D5 • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816 • 225.284.8679 • [email protected]
Key Qualifications
FormerlyofParsonsBrinckerhoff,aglobalengineeringfirm,Iwasmostrecentlyasenior graphic designer and a communications specialist serving on many projects nationwide, including the $300 million Geaux Wider Interstate Widening Program. Geaux Wider involves the widening of nearly 20 miles of Interstates 10 and 12 throughout metro Baton Rouge. I also served on the Louisiana TIMED Program. TIMED wasthelargesttransportationinitiativeinLouisianahistory,a$4.6billionprogramdedicatedtoimproving16highways,bridges,andfacilitiesaroundthestate.
I have over 17 years of graphic design experience, and I developed visual communications for the Parsons Brinckerhoff Communications and Public Involvement group and its clients. Deliverables included infographics, brochures, fact sheets, newsletters, invitations, posters, and large-scale displays, as well as promotional items such as T-shirts, logos, and coloring/activity books. I was also the lead point of contact for the development and maintenance of several websites, such as “TIMED to Learn,” “TIMED 2 Explore Engineering,” “The I-12 Widening Project,” and “Geaux Wider.”
I was the spokesperson for the John James Audubon (JJA) Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere, which was completed in 2012. I have also been a team member on various projects for the departments of transportation in Louisiana, Kansas, Utah, Florida, Michigan, Vermont, and Oklahoma. I have over seven years of public relations experience that encompasses communicating effectivelywiththepublic,clients,projectofficials,electedofficials,andthemediavia public presentations, press releases, social media, communications campaigns, website updates, and television and radio interviews.
I was asked by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to be a judge in the 2013 American Association of State Highway and TransportationOfficials(AASHTO)TransCommSkillsContest.MycolleaguesandIjudged graphic design and social media entries from various state departments of transportation across the United States.
I was part of a team of social media professionals for Parsons Brinckerhoff that has earned a national reputation for project outreach. I also combine a communications skillsetwithagraphicdesignexpertisethatisrarelyseenandbenefitsnotonlythepublic, but clients as well.
Recent Projects
•LouisianaDOTDGeauxWiderProgram •LouisianaTIMEDProgram •Tulsa-OklahomaCityCorridorInvestmentPlan •MichiganDOTI-96ReconstructionProject •VermontAgencyofTransportationRochester-Middlebury-WarrenBridge
Construction •VermontAgencyofTransportationWaterburyAreaTransportationProjects
•Dallas-FortWorthCoreExpressServiceProject •FederalRailroadAdministrationNECFuture •SaltLakeCity1300SouthViaductRehabilitationProgram •KansasDOT5-CountyRegionalTransportationStudy •YubaCountyNorthBealeRoadCompleteStreetsProject
Professional Experience
Parsons Brinckerhoff (June 2007 - July 2015)Senior Graphic Designer •MetregularlywithCommunicationsDirectorandpublicoutreachstafftodiscuss
and develop creative ideas and concepts •Createdoriginalprintanddigitaldesignssuchasinfographics,factsheets,
covers, page layouts, illustrations, project logos, charts, graphs, maps, and other illustrations
•Maintainedbrandconsistencythroughoutallprintedmaterial •Directedpre-presspreparationandproduction;servedaspointofcontactfor
printers
Communications Specialist •Developedcommunicationstrategiesforandmaintainedcloseprofessional
relationship with clients regarding milestones and events, such as groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and press conferences
•Workedcloselywithconstructionpersonnel,includingprojectmanagers,contractors, and state transportation agencies, to stay current on all construction activities
•Wroteanddistributedpressreleasestovariousmediaoutletsforprintandwebpublication
•Respondedtoemailandtelephonequestionsfromstakeholders •Distributedconstructionupdatestoextensiveemaillists •Updatedwebsitesandsocialmediasites,includingFacebookandTwitter,to
reflectcurrentstatusofconstructionprojects •Engagedthepublicthroughsocialmediainteractions •Updatedandinformedthepublicviatelevisionandradiointerviews
National Center for Biomedical Research and Training (NCBRT) at Louisiana State University (August 2002 - April 2007)Graphic Development Coordinator •Designedanddevelopedmarketingmaterials,suchaslogos,banners,
brochures, trade-show displays, and posters, as well as course materials (certificates,coursecovers,PowerPointtemplates,flowcharts,diagrams,andillustrations) in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment
•AppointedasNCBRTProductionLiaisontocoordinatewithPrintingServices’production of printed materials, negotiated bulk printing rates, and ensured qualitycontrol
•CollaboratedwithNCBRT’sPublicAffairssectionbyservingonNCBRT’sBranding Committee and implemented organizational identity standards for printed and electronic products
billgrassDesign Awards: 10/2012 - Best
Display Graphic for Geaux Wider infographic, presented by AASHTO to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
10/2009 – Award of Excellence for TIMED 2 Explore Engineering brochure and Awards of Merit for Huey P. Long direct mail card and TIMED Program timeline display, presented by SPRF
12/2008–Awardof Merit for TIMED 2 Explore Engineering brochure, presented by PRSA (New Orleans chapter)
9/2008–SilverQuillAwards, received with other TIMED Public Outreach employees, in categories of Special Events, Employee Communications, Community Relations, and Annual Report/One Time Publication, presented by IABC
11/2007 – Award of Excellence in Invitations for Louisiana Highway 15 ribbon cutting invitation, presented by PRSA (New Orleans chapter)
billgrass •Tookcourse-relatedphotographswithdepartment’sdigitalcamera •Delegatedtaskstoandsupervisedintern,studentworkers,andadjunct
employees
Freelance Graphic Designer (June 1998 - present) •Creategraphicprojectsforclients •Meetwithclientstodeterminegraphicsneedsandmakerecommendations •Create/manipulategraphicsasneeded •Edittextforformattingandconsistency •Collaboratewithclients’printshopsforproductionofmaterials
Hobbies/Interests: Musician in several
Baton Rouge bands, including Long Neck Society, Blu Rouge, Choupique,TheVOID,and Witness This
Bicycling
Astronomy
